Zuck says AI glasses will soon be a must-have accessory

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes that in the near future, AI-powered smart glasses will become the main way people interact with AI in their everyday lives. 

Speaking during Meta’s second-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg said he thinks people who don’t use AI glasses could fall behind, mentally and socially, compared to those who do.

Zuckerberg explained that smart glasses are uniquely suited for AI because they can “see” and “hear” what the user experiences. 

This means AI could better understand your context and needs throughout the day. Adding a display to the glasses, whether small or large, like in AR, would only improve the experience, he added.

Meta has already released products like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and more recently, Oakley Meta glasses. 

These devices let users play music, record videos, and ask Meta’s AI questions, even about things they’re looking at. 

Surprisingly, these glasses have become quite popular, with sales more than tripling compared to the previous year, according to eyewear partner EssilorLuxottica.

Still, Zuckerberg thinks the best is yet to come. He highlighted how Meta’s Reality Labs division, which focuses on virtual and augmented reality, has been working on these technologies for the past 5 to 10 years. 

However, this division has lost a massive $70 billion since 2020, including $4.5 billion just in the last quarter, making it a risky and expensive bet. 

He’s now framing it as an investment in the future of AI and how people will use it daily.

Other companies are exploring different types of AI devices, like wearable pins and pendants. For example, OpenAI recently bought a startup to develop new AI gadgets. 

But for now, glasses seem the most practical, as many people already wear them and they don’t stand out.

Zuckerberg also sees AI glasses as a key part of building the Metaverse, a future digital world where physical and virtual realities blend. 

In his view, smart glasses could be the bridge to that future, and he’s betting big on it.

Do you think AI glasses will become essential technology like smartphones did? Or is Zuckerberg overestimating people’s willingness to wear computers on their faces? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.